Takahiro Mahara reached 100 saves in only 178 games in Nippon Pro Baseball, the fastest rate in NPB history.

Mahara went 30-5 in college. He pitched for Japan's Bronze Medal winners in the 2002 World University Championship, allowing one run (unearned) and one hit while striking out 8 in five innings of work for a win. The Daiei Hawks picked him in the first round in 2003. He debuted for them in 2004, going 3-3 with a 6.30 ERA, allowing 66 hits in 50 innings.

Mahara is incorrectly listed by some sources, like Wikipedia, as having played in the 2006 World Baseball Classic. He was a reserve and was being considered when Hirotoshi Ishii was questionable but Ishii was able to play in the tourney and Mahara's services were unneeded.

Mahara was 0-4 with 29 saves in 2006, striking out 62 in 54 2/3 IP and having only a 1.65 ERA. He made the PL All-Star team. His ERA barely led the Hawks, .10 better than Kazumi Saitoh. He finished third in the circuit in saves behind Micheal Nakamura and Masahide Kobayashi.

Takahiro improved to 2-4, 1.47 in 2007 with 38 saves (most in the PL). He fanned 68 in 67 1/3 innings while allowing just a .206 average. He made his second All-Star squad. He battled right shoulder problems during 2008, limiting him to 21 games. He went 0-2 with 11 saves and a 2.79 ERA. His final save of the season was the 100th of his career. Coming in game 178, it made him the quickest pitcher in NPB history to 100 saves.